MURRAY, Ky. — Southeast Missouri fell to top-ranked Murray State Saturday in straight sets, 3-0 (25-18, 25-23, 25-17). 

Southeast falls to 6-8 in Ohio Valley Conference play and 10-17 on the season. The first-place Racers improve to 13-1 OVC and 23-2 on the season. 

The Redhawks remained neck-and-neck right out of the gate with the Racers in the opening set. A kill by Nzingha Clarke tied the set a 6-6 but a six-point run by Murray propelled the Racers ahead, 12-6. The Redhawks quickly answered with four points to pull within two, 12-10, but that would be the closest Southeast would get in the set as the Racers would roll to a 25-18 set one victory. Four Redhawks each had two kills in the set for Southeast. 

The second set was the closest of the match. Tied at six, a kill by Krissa Gearring sparked a seven-point run to put the Redhawks out in front, 13-6. The Racers immediately answered with five points to narrow Southeast's lead to two. The Redhawks were able to remain in front but just barely. Down 16-13, the Racers used an 8-1 run to overtake Southeast, 21-17. Southeast was able to fire the offense and retie the set at 23. A kill Sam Bedard and a Redhawk error sealed the 25-23 win for Murray State and a 2-0 lead in the match. Clarke led the Redhawk offense with four kills in the set while Gearing contributed three kills.

The Racers completed the sweep of Southeast with a 25-17 set three victory. While the Redhawks remained close early, they never found much of a lead on Murray. Madeline Grimm had three kills in the set and hit .750. 

Clarke and Gearring each finished with six kills in the match while Madalyn Werths and Grimm had five each. 

Clarke also had five blocks to contribute to Southeast's 10 total in the match. Marie Less had 10 digs in the match. 

The Redhawks will close their three-game road swing at UT Martin on Tuesday at 7 p.m.